Friday, May 6, 2011

B*N*S*N2

U.S. Army Soldiers from the Cultural Support Team and Female Treatment Team are introduced to members of the women’s shura held at a local compound in the village of Oshay in the Uruzgan province of Afghanistan, May 4, 2011. With the support of U.S. Special Operation Forces, the CST and FTT are working closely together in order to bring health education to women in the area, as well as give them a voice in the district. (U.S. Army Photo by Staff Sgt. Kaily Brown/Not Reviewed)

URUZGAN, Afghanistan (May 5, 2011) – Members of a U.S. Special Operations cultural support team, along with a coalition female treatment team, met with women from villages in the Shahid-e-Hassas district at a family compound in Oshay village, May 4.

The intent behind the shura was to provide health education to local women and a venue to discuss their issues, said a CST member at the event.

There were 38 women in attendance, some traveled from as far away as Kandahar.

“This was the first shura to incorporate more than one family from the Oshay village, marking a significant milestone for the women of Shahid-e-Hassas district,” said the CST member.

The team also offered classes to the attendees on proper personal hygiene, such as hand washing, nail grooming, laundry, and dental health education.

The women said they were pleased with the outcome and are looking forward to future shuras and medical clinics for women.

“We are happy with today’s shura,” said a local Afghan woman at the shura. “Today should be an outline for future shuras of this kind. We were able to have our voices heard and share our concerns with other women in the village.”